Townhome owners battle toxic drywall

(Chinese drywall update; FL) KB Homes claims there is no Chinese drywall in the homes, but tests confirm there is. KB and other builders want homeowners to sign a release to get repairs, with no guarantee the repairs will be adequate.

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by Warren Elly

BRANDON - Three years ago, Palm River Townhomes sold fast. The prices were great, and so was the location, right off the Crosstown Expressway to downtown.

But just over a year ago, many homes started smelling like sulphur. Pets and humans got sick, and those who could afford to started leaving.

Toni Acquaviva was among them.

"I moved out, my choice. I'm still paying my mortgage, but I can't take the smell," she said.

Many of the people who bought here were young people, and this was their first home, their American dream that has turned into a nightmare. Acquaviva's silver jewelry has turned black, and some others say they've had AC units replaced four times after the copper coils turned black.

The number one suspect is toxic Chinese drywall, but at first, Palm River Homeowners' complaints brought a letter from builder KB homes that declared, "no evidence of Chinese drywall."

Yet when Carol Greco went out of town, her symptoms went away.

"I came back and I was here two hours, and I had a headache and I was sick, it's just awful," Greco said.